Former President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton came to the White House Saturday in answer to President Obama’s call to raise money for the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti this week.
“Before this earthquake Haiti had the best chance in my lifetime to escape its history,” Clinton said, speaking to reporters in the Rose Garden, following remarks by Obama and Bush. “They can escape their history and build a better future if we do our part.”
Bush commended Obama for a “swift and timely response” to the earthquake, which registered 7.0 on the Richter scale Tuesday and has killed around 50,000 people, according to the most recent estimates from the Red Cross.
“Our hearts our broken,” Bush said of himself and former first lady Laura Bush, who he said had been watching television coverage of the quake’s aftermath.
Obama has already committed $100 million in federal funds to help Haiti recover, and has also dispatched military and government disaster response personnel to help. He said the two presidents will raise funds here in the U.S. to maintain an ongoing aid effort to the small nation, which Clinton called “one of the most remarkable and unique places I have ever been.”
Though the current response to the disaster, from the government and the public, is vigorous, Obama said, “when the news media starts seeing its attention drift to other things but there’s still enormous needs on the ground, these two gentleman of extraordinary stature I think are going to be able to help ensure that these efforts are sustained.”
Bush said to those who wish to donate at www.clintonbushhaitifund.org that he and Clinton would “make sure your money is spent wisely.”
“I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water. Just send your cash,” Bush said.
It was a rare moment, to see the current president and his two immediate predecessors in the Rose Garden. It was also a moment of political and national goodwill and unity, at a moment when the country is being riven apart by the debate over health care reform and by anger and anxiety over the continuing economic downturn and high unemployment.
For Bush, it was his first trip back to the White House since leaving office almost exactly one year ago. He appeared nostalgic to be back, looking around the Rose Garden at journalists he recognized and giving slight nods.
Former Bush aides, who have expressed frustration and anger at Obama’s continued blaming of Bush for the country’s problems, maintained total radio silence on Saturday when asked how they felt about Bush coming back to Washington to stand beside the president.